Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-12-02
THE BEAN ESTATE.
DIR. Howard has been Appointed Ad-
ministrator OF the Vast Property,
Which Is Increasing in Values
This Ruling Will Have Great Bearing On tie
Trial for tho Heirship-A synopsis
OF the C6se.
A FAMOUS CASE .



with eager spectators impatiently waiting
the arrival of Judge Mcclellan, who was
to render decision ia the Bean case at 8
O'Clock. at Gals the Judge arrived, and
as soon as order could be had he COM
menced to read his decision, which
granted letters of administration TO DR..
II. P. Howard of San Antonio. The
Judge stated he had duly weighed the
evidence, and as no impeachment could
be attached to any of the witnesses
| for Howard he was compelled to
render a decision as stated above.
The ruling is popular one, and very little
dissatisfaction is expressed by the citi-
zens. DR.. Howard has made many friends
here, and
WAS WARMLY CONGRATULATED
this morning on his success in gaining the
Enthusiastically. His bond was fixed
8 100000, which the doctor can readily
give, as he stands high among the citizens
OF San Antonio, at which place he is now
postmaster. The ruling of Judge Nc
CIellan this morning will have CREST bear
ing on the trial for heirship, as DR.. How
ard based his claim On his relationship to
! the deceased.
Before dropping the curtain on the Bean
| set, it might be well to go back over some
Of the mysteries that surrounded the dead
land king from the time he was first
known here until after death, which &C
Cured in this city on July "a, last.
| Colonel Bean was an eccentric character.
He was bachelor and had lived in q
small one-room house for twenty-five or
thirty years. At an early day he was 8
surveyor, and for surveys rendered the
county and state ne would
TAKE LAND FOR PAY.
! OF course, being a surveyor he could al
ways locate the most valuable land, and g
| portion of the best he would always Sc
| lect SIS remuneration for surveys. In this
way he managed to secure 10. 900 or
IL, 600 acres of rich farming lands. This
| he let stand for lew years when 1t be-
came more valuable. He then brought
into plsv shrewd judgment that was
characteristic of the man, sold some Of
the most valuable and bought
larger quantities of cheaper lands
which soon increased ia value.
In this way he accumulated something
near 10000 acres of valuable farming
land, mostly in this county. His taxes
increased from year to year, until before
his death he paid about $4,000 annually
on land alone. Colonel Bean was very
reticent regarding
HIS FAMILY RELATIONS.
He had few confidential friends, and to
the few with whom he was intimate he
| scarcely went further than TO tell them
| that he had no near relations living. Il
was current rumor, however, that the
ColoneI's father was buried in this city,
having died about the year 1S45. The
local gossips went further and
stated that Colonel Bean had two
brothers, one or both of whom went
to California. Subse quent developments
proved these rumors were not without
foundation, as the statements were proved
at the recent trial in this city.
When Colonel Bean died the question
arose in the minds OF the people as to
what disposition would be made of this
large estate. Temporary administrators
were by the court appointed who
SEARCHED AMONG THE PAPERS AND Eff
FECTS
of the deceased, hoping to be rewarded
either by the finding of will or some
instrument of writing that would throw
some light upon the family history Of the
deceased. In this they were disappointed
as nothing important was found. Abou,
two months after the death of Colone
Bean, visionary heirs began TO crop Out
all over the United States and few il
the Dominion Of Canada, attire cted by the
special snd Associated Press accounts thai
appeared in the newspapers at the time
Prominent among these would-be claim
ants was one W. Saunders of Oxford
Miss, who came forward with very ex-
traordinary story, being something after
this fashion: Colonel Bean, he stated,
WAS HIS OWN BROTHER,
and his true name was Saunders. About
forty years ago his brother, Tom Saun
ders, was surveying land IN Tennessee
during which he became enraged at his
chain bearer and struck him over the
head with his jacobs staff and killed him
To escape punishment Thomas Saunders
fed to small island in the Mississippi
river known as Bean island. The name
of the island suggested to him the idea
of taking that name tor the
purpose Of escaping detection. Conse,
quently he had come to Texas with thai
assumed name and had subsequently
lived the life of seclusion because Of
being fugitive. The story of Saunders
was believed by many who heard it, and
through his attorneys, Mr.. Saunders filed
q petition to take out
LETTERS OF ADMINlsTRATORsHIP
on the estate. Previous to this time DR.
Howard had fled petition as being next
of kin to Bean. w. W. Russell was 9
claimant TO the enthusiastically from 8
standpoint of being reputable citizen Of
this county, asking that his claim be con-
sidered if no relationship was proven
All of the claimants came before
the trial which commenced lsst Thurs.
day. at the very outset OF the trial Saun.
ders' attorneys withdrew him from the
race snd the contest was narrowed down
to Russell and Howard. The result has
been stated. DR.. Howard is the ad-
ministrstor and in the end will, with
those claiming the same line, recover this
vast estate, which, if left intact
Tor ten years longer, will approximate
Sic 600 600